The Woman in Black
Adapted by Stephen Mallatratt
Directed by Robin Herford
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
October 10, 2025
Ben Porter, James Byng
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
The Rep is continuing the seasonal trend of hauntings, thrills, chills, and mystery in theatrical productions with their hosting of the Original London Production of The Woman in Black. While I do find myself wishing for a more “home grown” production, I do have to say that the production is a chilling, precisely staged horror classic. With a great cast and truly dazzling production values, it’s a clever production that fits in nicely with the Halloween season.
The original London production of this show is somewhat legendary, having run for over 30 years and spawning touring productions like this one. It casts three players who rotate in the roles. On Press Night, I saw James Byng as the Actor and Ben Porter as Arthur Kipps, an aging lawyer who has a spooky story to tell, but lacks the dramatic ability to tell it in the way he wishes. He has hired the Actor to help him, and after some false starts, they begin in earnest, with the Actor playing the younger Kipps and Kipps playing the other roles in the story. According to his tale, Kipps was a young attorney who was assigned by his employer to attend the funeral of a longtime client–a reclusive widow–and find and sort through the paperwork dealing with her estate. He then heads off to a remote small town where the residents all seem afraid whenever Kipps mentions his business. Nobody wants to go to the late Mrs. Drablow’s residence, Eel Marsh House, insinuating that bad things happen to those who do go there. After he eventually arrives at the house, he’s able to piece together a story of a mysterious Woman in Black, and endure some bone-chilling experiences involving the house, the legend, and a series of creepy visions that threaten doom for those who witness them, including Kipps himself.
The staging is clever and impeccably timed, with some truly fantastic special effects, and a set by Michael Holt that involves walls that become transparent when necessary, and a suitably theatrical atmosphere for the framing device. The lighting by Anshuman Bhatia and sound by Sebastian Frost add much to the intensity and terror-building atmosphere of the show, which is paced with chilling determination. Special note should also go to Imogen Finlayson for excellent work with “Vision Productions”.
The acting is first-rate, with Porter playing the older Kipps and a variety of other roles with remarkable versatility and presence. Byng, as the Actor who “becomes” the younger Kipps, is also excellent, with a relatable energy and credibility. The two work together especially well, lending much to the overall storytelling and intensity of the piece.
The Woman in Black is at once a chilling horror tale and a love letter to theatre, in both its framing device and overall spectacular stagecraft. While I do hope hosting tours doesn’t become a regular thing for this company (it’s the Rep, not the Fox), it is nice to see a West End show brought to St. Louis with such style and precision. It’s a well-crafted work of theatrical excellence that works well for this time of year.
James Byng, Ben Porter
Photo by Jon Gitchoff
Repertory Theatre of St. Louis
The Woman in Black is running at the Repertory of St. Louis until October 26, 2025